Visit California released their April Travel Forecast, which calls for continued modest growth throughout 2013. Returning room demand outpaced new supply in 2012 and this dynamic continued in early 2013. The higher occupancy rates are translating into increased pricing power for hoteliers, especially in San Jose, Sacramento, Oakland and Anaheim.

Visit California released their California Travel Impacts report for 2012, which shows that travel-related spending in the state generated $106.4 billion in revenue, $6.6 billion in local and state taxes, and supported employment for 917,000 state residents. The report also covered growth in local tax revenus, travel activity and details on average room rates.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association announced the winners of the 2013 State Leadership Awards at their annual Legislative Action Summit. David Britton, CHA, General Manager of the Holiday Inn Torrance was honored with the award for the State of California.

High school hospitality students from Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, California took home the international title in the tenth annual American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) International Lodging Management Program (LMP) Competition, held last week in Orlando, Florida.

The Monta Vista team of 10th graders Emily Hong, Michelle Li, Sonal Patel, and Isabella Zhang, under the leadership of teacher Carl Schmidt, took top honors at the annual competition. This was the first ever entry from a California high school into this competition. “The key is no one wins alone,” stated Carl Schmidt when asked about his team’s victory....

Jennifer Wheaton was recognized, for the second consecutive year, with the "30 and Under" Emerging Leaders Award by the California Travel Association at the California Travel Summit recently in San Diego. This award identifies and recognizes future hospitality industry leaders for their outstanding contributions to the industry.

Paul Robert Handlery, well-known as the owner and Chairman of Handlery Hotels, Inc., passed away January 26, 2013, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 92 years old. Paul Handlery was Chairman of then, AH&MA in 1974, and was a long standing member of the AH&LA Resort Committee.

The family of Mr. Paul Handlery will be having a Celebration of his life on Wednesday, March 13th at 2:00pm at the Fairmount Hotel San Francisco.

Nine members of the California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) and California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns (CABBI) were named among the winners of TripAdvisor’s 11th annual Travelers’ Choice Awards, announced Thursday morning. CH&LA and CABBI members were recognized in several of the award categories.

The Handlery Foundation is giving back to the hospitality community through a $5,000 donation to the California Hotel & Lodging Association Education Foundation (CH&LAEF) scholarship program.
The Handlery Foundation has been an essential supporter of the CH&LA Education Foundation and its mission to foster the education of our future hospitality industry leaders. For two generations, the Handlery family has been a very active member of the California Hotel & Lodging Association for many years with Jon Handlery currently sitting on the board of directors.

Known for his gee-whiz enthusiasm in interviews, Huell Howser highlighted the familiar and the obscure all around the state. His public TV series included 'California's Gold,' 'Visiting,' 'Road Trip' and 'Downtown. Howser, 67, an iconic figure in public television, died at home Sunday night, his assistant Ryan Morris said. The cause of death was not released.

On January 1, H.R. 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, was enacted into law. The legislation stopped many automatic tax increases which were scheduled to go into effect immediately, temporarily averting the so-called budgetary “fiscal cliff” in Washington.

The automatic spending reductions of the fiscal cliff were not addressed in the bill, but will be revisited by the new Congress before the deadline in two months.

AH&LA appreciates its members, and this month AH&LA is showing you how much! Throughout December, members save an additional 20% off regular member pricing* on hospitality learning solutions from the Educational Institute. Order online using your AH&LA member number and enter the code MERRY at check out - or call 800-344-4381 and mention this offer. Offer ends 12/31/12.

The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) inducted Peggy Mosley, owner of the Groveland Hotel in Groveland, CA into the CH&LA Hall of Fame Tuesday at the W San Francisco. The Hall of Fame award is CH&LA’s most prestigious honor, presented to California hoteliers or industry executives recognized for outstanding contributions of leadership, service, and professionalism to the California lodging industry and the community at large.

The California Hotel & Lodging Association announced their 2012 Stars of the Industry award winners yesterday at the W San Francisco in San Francisco, CA. The Stars of the Industry awards, presented by USA TODAY, were given out under four property and six individual categories, including a brand new category for this year, the HD Supply Housekeeping award. Also new this year was the Student Member and Student Chapter of the Year awards. This new award recognizes a non-management housekeeping staff member for their outstanding efforts and contributions to their hotel’s housekeeping operations. Also new this year was the Student Member and Student Chapter of the Year...

The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) elected its 2013 Board of Directors at its annual meeting this Wednesday, November 27th at the W San Francisco. The 2013 chair will be Allan Farwell of the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa. In addition, the elected officers for 2013 were announced as Bimal Patel, CHA, Concept Hotels (Vice Chair); Terri Haack, Terranea Resort (Secretary/Treasurer); and Rick Anderson, Casa Tropicana Inn (Past Chair). Additionally, Marcy Tanner of Disney will be joining the Board of Directors for 2013. Lynn Mohrfeld, CAE is the President & CEO of CH&LA.